Menokreatikkul; Saturday Stitches

Weeeeelllllllll...

That wee swatch I worked up from the stitch I shared with you last week very quickly became a beanie. I could have just continued in the same fashion as had been presented in the video... but no, the YAMster had to go off-piste.

After that first run (the pattern is an eight-row cover) I opted to slip off the first six stitches of the 38 on the needle and worked the remaining 32 for four rows, remounting those six stitches (without actually knitting them) and then slipped them again for the next four rows. This created a 'fanned' fabric, which I seamed up the back and then easily and quickly pulled the narrower part together to form the crown. I had done this before realising I hadn't photographed the stages... but will be finessing this approach in future knits, so will show and explain more once I've established it as a viable alternative to working a circular hat construction.

Anyway, from the 104 rows at the brim, I picked up stitches and in the first row round reduced these to 98 (it was an Aran weight yarn, remember) on a needle half a size smaller (had used 6mm, so went down to 5.5mm) to create the 1x1 ribbed band. I made sure I caught the front bar of the row ends so that when worn with the brim unfolded, in the 'slouchy' style, it runs smoothly, but when folded back for the full winter protector style, it does so without struggle (like a hinge), and the back loops from the rows form a pretty edging.

I was surprised how little yarn this used, and there was sufficient to make a cowl in the patterning. Just a straight 12-repeat, using the same 38-stitch width, then seamed, and a single crochet edging for the row ends. It is snug without being tight, folds nicely around the neck, and can be pulled up over the nose and mouth for a mid-winter balaclava-like look!

Although this is 100% acrylic yarn, it is amazingly warm, and this pattern style really suited it, so I am very pleased with the result. Originally thinking this would be gifted to Mac1 for her Christmas, it may now be staying with me! Will be making more.

In the meantime, have moved on to the next experiment with this openwork stitch... watch this space, but here's a teaser...

Menoturals; Flower For Rosy

Joining in with the LLB gang for Nature Friday... and due to being static for so long, fresh nature pics and info are a tad lacking. Therefore, I'm diving into the floral archives to use up some from the past year that have been waiting their turn!

The plant in the image is Kenilworth Ivy (Cymbalaria muralis), which is also commonly called Ivy-leaved Toadflax. It grows all over the walls here in Dunoon (and many other walls and gardens in Scotland/UK). 

Menovering; Movements Afloat

Sitting here by the mighty Clyde, long-timers will know I get to see all sorts of shipping activity. Everything from little local 'tinnies' with outboard motors, yachts from one of the several clubs on the coastline, small cargo ships and tugs, giant floating hotels and tankers... and naval shipping. HMNB Clyde (Faslane) is just a few miles up the water. Mostly I see the frigates and minesweepers, and sometimes catch one of the nine submarines which call it home port. Some of you may recall this image from my archives:

Originally shown on my now-retired photography blog (where, if you are so inclined, you can go to the Shipping Label and indulge in all the different vessels spotted over the years - some are even rather fine photos, if I say so myself), this was one of the nine. For the image-curious, yes, that was the actual lighting of the day - you can just make out the green on yonder hillside. It is not a black-and-white photo! Back to submarines. Note the configuration of the conning tower, the length... now compare it to this one spotted moving out a couple of weeks back:

Rather longer, slightly sleeker-looking... checking my AIS app, it was revealed only as "USA naval vessel"; which was more than I sometimes get, as many of the military ships quite literally fly under the radar. That is to say, they are not obliged to turn on the Automatic Identification System if they are deploying. Anyway, this glimpse reminded me of one of my 'indulgent watches', the film Hunter Killer. I rather like submarine films. Das Boot was a classic, of course... but let me not get distracted. That's a subject for another time!

Another vessel my eye was attracted to was this one;

It was quite different to other stuff seen here on a regular basis. Well, that was interesting! I couldn't quite make out the name, even with my binoculars, as it was on the far shoreline, but the AIS revealed it to be the RRS Discovery. Yes, the same name as the ship that Robert Scott and his ill-fated team sailed to Antarctica. You can read all about this scientific research vessel on the rather magnificent website of the National Oceanography Centre. There's lots to explore (no pun!) there. 

I was rather taken with the fact that the third officer is a young lady - on a ship's crew made up entirely of men. Also, the current captain is an Edinburgh-born fellow who, in this short video, gives you all the basics of the job, the ship, the purpose... (and I bet you weren't expecting this sort of post today!)